The fact that Janne Ahonen has problems with alcohol has been known for a long time. He admitted it for the first time in his biography published in 2009, where he described several cases of jumping that he made with a hangover or under the influence of alcohol. This includes a fall in 2005, when he jumped 240 meters, but he did not stop jumping – if he did, he would have set a world record. The force of the fall was so great that his helmet broke, and Ahonen knew immediately that he had broken a rib. But he did not want to go to the hospital – he was afraid that the truth that would lead to the scandal would emerge. And it was like he had a hangover because he’d spent the night before partying. It is this incident that he regrets the most in his entire career and does not intend to watch it again, although similar situations have happened both before and after.
When in 2008 in Zakopane he took only 16th place – and his colleagues from the Finnish team were even worse – coach Tommi Nikunen knew immediately that something had happened. – Some of them were still drunk and Ahonen was the worst of them. I was incredibly disappointed.
Janne Ahonen: I didn’t feel like I needed any help
– I’m a non-drinking alcoholic. Every day I try not to drink. I quit drinking for the first time in 2013. I found out that I was not drinking alcohol within reasonable limits. I did feel a bit of pressure from outside, but that was my decision. I didn’t feel like I needed any help, Ahonen began his confession.
Unfortunately, the legendary Finnish jumper did not stick to his decision. He reached for alcohol in the spring of last year. – I thought it would be okay. I had a few beers with my friends. I thought I had matured, learned and got smarter, but I was immediately back to square one. Nothing has changed. Then I realized I needed help and started looking outside. Even though I haven’t had a drink in eight years, my disease has not been cured. Hope I never have to deal with this again. Every day I try not to drink.
Ahonen is not the only case of a Finnish jumper who has struggled with alcohol. – In 2008, he returned from a party so drunk that he didn’t even remember which hotel his staff were staying in. He went practically straight to the hill. And that’s the mammoth in Oberstdorf, where the ski flying world championships were held. And so he was able to jump over 200 meters. He had always argued that his character, aggressiveness and talent were enough – who, despite his great talent, never achieved as much as Ahonen. The most famous example is Matti Nykaenen, who died at the age of 55, whom many call the best jumper in history. – When I was 14, I got drunk with three bottles of beer. But I have no problem with alcohol. I have seen people suffering from alcoholism. They drink so much that they cannot walk. And even after four beers I can run –
Ahonen, 44, does not want to make the mistakes of his great predecessor. Although at the same time he is unable to say whether, had it not been for alcoholism, he would have achieved even more in his career. A great career, because he is one of the best jumpers in history: he won the Four Hills Tournament five times, he won the Crystal Ball twice. In addition, he won 36 competitions of the World Cup, stood on the podium 108 times and was an individual world champion twice. He ended his career three times – in 2008, 2011 and 2018. Recently, however, he took part in the Finnish championship. which proves both the class of the 44-year-old jumper and the scale of the fall of Finnish ski jumping.
Marko Jantunen: I could have died myself
The former NHL hockey player Marko Jantunen made a similar confession to Ahonen last Saturday – both were guests of the Yle TV program (Ahonen is its expert), devoted to alcohol problems in Finnish sports. – We have some of the best athletes in the world who have died of addiction. I could have died myself. It is a serious disease and should be treated as such. We need to understand how to treat addiction, Jantunen explained. The former hockey player and Ahonen believe that the younger generation is better adapted to the demands of a sports career and pays more attention to health, but it is estimated that in the 5.5 million there may be as many as 600,000. alcoholics.
Janne Ahonen: I’m not a jumper anymore, I deal with wetsuits
– Professionally, I am no longer a jumper, I deal with suits and their distribution. I became even more of a seller than a producer. I did a few jumps in Lahti last week, but really: just for fun. In two weeks we have a national championship on these hills and I planned to compete on them. I just want to do it. Then it’s time for another break. It’s not like I want to go back to the World Cup, create a competition for someone in Finland. No, these are just a few jumps that I want to do for myself –
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
